Digvijaya slams Modi over Lokayukta, calls him corrupt

Panaji: A day after Justice RA Mehta declined to assume office as Gujarat Lokayukta, Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh on Thursday attacked Chief Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of double speak on corruption.

"Narendra Modi, who speaks against corruption, has no transparency in his functioning. Modi during his tenure has failed to appoint Lokayukta in the state which has left the common man with no option to complain against the state government's corruption," he told reporters.

Narendra Modi. AFP

Justice Mehta, a retired Gujarat High Court judge whose appointment as Lokayukta was opposed by the Modi government, had on Wednesday declined to accept the post, saying the controversy had "denigrated" the office of the anti-graft watchdog.

"The CAG has repeatedly brought to the notice of Gujarat government plenty of corruption... to the extent of Rs 20,000 crore," Singh said.

The Congress leader said despite massive investment the state government-run Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation has not managed to produce gas from its single well.

Singh said the government would want passage of the Lok Pal Bill if the Opposition allowed Parliament to function.

"The Lokpal bill which was referred to the standing committee has been sent back to Parliament. If the Opposition allows Parliament to function, we can see the passage of the bill which is one of the election promises of the Congress party," he said.